Too FAT to be a nurse?

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I just recently got accepted into a BSN and ADN program. I have worked as a medical assistant for a busy pediatric practice for several years now. My worry is that I've seen so pretty negative comments in regards to overweight or obese nurses. Should I put everything I worked so hard for on hold to "lose weight"?

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You shouldn't put anything on hold. Some people are negative - that is their problem and not yours.

Take walks, be active and go for what you want. I am overweight too but I'm not going to let that stop me :)

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Specializes in CNA.

No don't put nothing on hold..if you want to diet then do so but just keep chuggin along..and on a side note..if you have someone calling you names or are worried they will just remember they are not gonna take care of you..you have to take care of you..its called ignoring the childish minded.

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Specializes in Geriatric and Mental Heath.

My doctor told me that "theres nothing worse than a fat nurse". You can go to the thread if you want to read the story. Anyway, you should not let your weight stop you from going to nursing school. If your weight bothers you or is negatively impacting your health you should do it for yourself. I'm currently losing weight, and I'm NOT putting school on hold. I want to set a good example, but I don't think I would make and unfit nurse if I didnt. I'm not going to let anyone keep me from my dreams and neither should you. Best of luck! :)

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Please don't quit nursing school. You have made it this far,don't let it pass by. I understand the importance of healthy weight, but I also know our society pays WAY TOO MUCH attention on appearances. Get your degree, and if you are wanting to lose weight, then do that as you go, or after. Don't let the rudeness of others ruin your goals!

(I'm a very thin,tiny gal, and I don't and will never judge or discriminate against someone regarding weight. It just doesn't matter to me, if you are nice to me then that is all that matters. I know this isn't the same, but I understand how weight can be an issue. I can't stand when people tell me"you are so skinny it makes me sick", I find myself apologizing to them. It really hurts my feelings, I'd rather them focus on my personality than my looks. Like I said I know it's not really the same, but just don't let people get you down. Keep your chin up & goto school:)

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Specializes in Oncology/hematology.

Your school accepted you at the weight you are. That should tell you something. If you think that you would be a better nurse at a lower weight, start working on it while you're in school and get the weight down. If not, don't worry about it. As long as you can do the job as good as someone who is a lower weight, you're fine.

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Specializes in Adult Internal Medicine.

I don't think any negative comments were due to appearances, they were d/t health concerns.

You don't have to lose any weight to be a good nurse.

You may *want* to lose weight as you progress

in school and learn about how obesity affects health.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Never, ever, EVER put your life on hold waiting to lose weight!! Opportunities will come and go, but weight usually stays....I can't even begin to count the number of things I didn't do because I thought I should lose weight first. Well, I've been fat for 30 years, and now those opportunities are long gone. Don't wait.....life isn't perfect when you're thin either, and trust me---you don't want to regret the road not taken.

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I think people have been talking crap since 1761 about other people and its not stopping anytime soon. If you want to be a nurse, be a nurse. If you think you should lose weight, lose weight. But I definately wouldn't hold off on putting myself or my family in a better situation because of my weight.

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I am also overweight and have thought about how that will work with the nursing profession. I have another year of prereqs before I even start the nursing program and I've given myself that year to lose some weight. I'm doing this for many reasons. First, I've wanted to lose weight for a long time but now I've got some extra motivation to do it. Second, I'm learning a lot more about how my unhealthy lifestyle is affecting my body and it's made me realize that I need to live healthier. Third, it seems hollow to tell patients how to conduct their lives (as far as health goes) but to not live by that example myself. And lastly, and most importantly, is I don't want to see my fat a** in scrubs. But I think it's important that I mention that skinny does not equal healthy. I don't think that you have to be "skinny" to be a good nurse, just healthy.

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I just recently got accepted into a BSN and ADN program. I have worked as a medical assistant for a busy pediatric practice for several years now. My worry is that I've seen so pretty negative comments in regards to overweight or obese nurses. Should I put everything I worked so hard for on hold to "lose weight"?

ABSOLUTELY NOT! Your weight has nothing to do with you becoming a nurse. Like you've said you have worked hard for this. If you want to lose weight you can do that but one thing doesn't need to come before the other! Who cares what other people say about overweight/obese nurses. There are overweight people in every profession. Forget about what other people have been saying/commenting. Please please please do what makes you happy.

Good luck with nursing!

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Absolutely not!!! You are probably a person who will do amazing things when finished school. You'll do great don't delay

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